When it comes to business signs, size matters. But does bigger always mean better?
Well, it depends.
Choosing the right size sign for your business is important for visibility, legibility and creating an overall positive impression on your customers. As signage experts, we’re going to share some tips on picking the right size sign for your business.
Consider Your Location
Before you even start thinking about the size of your sign, you need to consider your location. Is your business located on a busy street with lots of traffic? Or is it tucked away on a quiet side street? The location of your business will have a big impact on the size of the sign you should choose.If your business is located on a busy street, you’ll want a larger sign that can be easily seen from a distance and read whilst in motion (assuming potential customers will be driving past). On the other hand, if your business is located on a quiet side street, you may be able to get away with a smaller sign.
As an exercise to determine appropriate size, try walking and/or driving down the street and review the other signage in the area - what signs catch your eye/are you able to read whilst in motion? These signs are the types of sizes you want to mimic when sizing up your signage.
Consider Your Audience
Another factor to consider when choosing the size of your sign is your audience. Who are your customers? What are their needs and preferences? If your customers are primarily older adults, you may want to choose a larger sign with easy-to-read fonts. If your customers are primarily younger adults, you may be able to get away with a smaller sign with more creative fonts and designs.However, in our experience, big, simple signs are generally the most effective way to ensure legibility and visibility of your brand.
Consider Your Brand
Your brand is an important factor to consider when choosing the size of your sign. Your sign should reflect your brand and be consistent with your other marketing materials.If your brand is bold and colourful, you may want to choose a larger sign that can showcase your brand’s personality.
If your brand is more understated, you may be able to create a smaller, more refined sign.
Consider Your Budget
Of course, your budget is always an important consideration when it comes to business signs. Larger signs tend to be more expensive than smaller signs, so you’ll need to weigh the costs and benefits of each size. Remember that your sign is an investment in your business’s visibility and reputation, so it’s worth spending a little extra to get it right.
Looking at your signage needs from a long-term perspective can be helpful when justifying initial expenditure. Certain signage materials can last well over 10 years (link to materials article), meaning you are getting serious longevity from your initial investment and when you measure this initial investment against the number of customer acquisitions that these signs can produce over their lifetime, you’ll see that they have a relatively high ROI compared to your other marketing options.
Tips for Choosing the Right Size Sign
Now that you’ve considered the factors that go into choosing the right size sign for your business, here are some specific tips to help you make your decision:
Angles of viewing:
Check and consider how your sign might look from multiple angles (particularly based on where your customers might be walking/driving from)
Viewing Distance:
Again, putting yourself in your customers shoes - where will they be located when they first get a look at your sign? The larger the sign, font and logo, the easier it is for your potential customers to read and remember it. If it is a roadside sign, your sign will have to be large enough that the customers are able to read at a significant distance and whilst focusing on the road.
When estimating this - consider that for every additional 3m that your customers will be away from your sign, add 2.5cm to the height of your sign’s font. That means that if at the first place your customers see your sign, they are 42m away, the font on your sign should be at least 35 cm in height.
However when in doubt - just go bigger!
Signage Regulations:
Talk with your local government to ensure that your new signage designs or sizes don’t break any laws!
Keep it simple:
Don’t try to cram too much information onto your sign. Keep it simple and easy to read.
Use contrasting colours:
Your sign should be easy to read from a distance, so use contrasting colours to make your message stand out.
Test it out:
Before you commit to a size, make sure to test out different sizes and fonts to see what works best for your business.
Choosing the right size sign for your business is an important decision that can have a big impact on your visibility and reputation. By considering your location, audience, brand, and budget, and following these tips, you can choose a sign that is the perfect size for your business. Remember that your sign is an investment in your business’s success, so take the time to get it right.
